Chuck Constantino 

and Richard Smith

For West Valley Preps

TUCSON - The overall record and the statistics do not stand out at first glance. But since the start of the new year, the Centennial boys basketball program is breaking new ground in 5A, with a 9-4 record and increasingly big wins.

Centennial made the 140-mile trek down to Cholla High School Tuesday night not knowing what to expect at tipoff. But the 11th-seed Coyotes pushed through a slow first quarter, to upset No. 6 Cholla 57-52 in the first round of the 5A state tournament.

The victory marks the first playoff win in 10 years for the program and the Coyotes even picked up an unexpected home game along the way. Centennial (15-13) will host No. 14 Laveen Betty Fairfax at 6:30 p.m. Friday in the quarterfinals.

“This sounds pretty good for Centennial,” Coyote senior guard Koby Jones said. “It's our first playoff win in 10 years, we're doing something this year. I'm just really proud of the team right now.”

After the first quarter, Centennial trailed Cholla 14-7, and opened the game down 10 points. On a phone interview during the bus ride home, Coyotes Coach Randy Lavender said the slow starts are the one old habit this team has not been able to shake.

But, the Coyotes erupted for a 22-point second quarter thanks to five three-pointers and a suffocating defense that began to wear down the guard play of the Chargers.

“Honestly, I think we came out slow because we were underestimating those guys,” said Jones. “Coach warned us not to undestimate those guys, but I don't think we really took it to heart. We were just always taught that Tucson teams weren't that good, that they're weak and soft. ...We didn't care about the score, we just cared about the team, most of us have been playing together for six years.”

Again, the visitors from Peoria started out the half slow and Cholla claimed a 38-35 lead after three.

Jones finished with 12 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter to close out the game. He has been crucial for the Coyotes stretch drive, erupting for 49 points in a crucial three-overtime win at Willow Canyon Feb. 2 and taking over the 10-point play-in win over Poston Butte Feb. 9.

"He's figured out he's a good player. I told him over the summer that he was playing at about 50 to 60 percent his ability. Now he's closer to 85 to 90 percent. If he ever plays at 100 percent, he'll be one of the better players in the state," Lavender said.

Senior guard Payton Nelson and sophomore forward David Teibo also scored 12 points apiece for a balanced Coyote attacj=k.

The Coyotes clung to a 44-43 lead over the Chargers with 4:05 left to play in the fourth quarter, and then held Cholla scoreless for a three minutes to stretch its lead to 10 points with a little over 60 seconds left to play.

For the second consecutive season, Cholla's season ended with a first-round upset. Senior guard Marcel Dean, whose role transformed from a freshman sixth man four years ago to one of the state's best guards, scored a game-high 27 points.

While Centennial's offense opened up in the final frame, Cholla's — who was down two starters due to injury — did not. As it shrunk to a half-court game, the Coyotes length and defensive pressure – resulting in 15 forced turnovers — tunneled its focus on Dean, limiting the combo guard to seven points in the fourth quarter.

“We couldn't execute and they started putting pressure on us toward the midway point in the fourth quarter,” Marcel Dean said. “We just got lost in what to do, and started turning it over and missing shots.”

After the game, with the stands emptied and the lights dimmed, Cholla coach Masai Dean reflected on his time spent as the head coach of his son for the last four years.

“I've been thinking of that all year, he's done a good job for us,” a glossy-eyed Masai Dean said. “He was a part of three division championship teams, he's grown as a young man. Its been exciting to let go and let him do what he does. I'm a proud dad. We've done a lot of winning together since he's been here. This is a bitter pill, but I've been reflecting since earlier in the year, so I'm alright right now.”

Lavender said two games in January caused him to believe this team could make some noise in the playoffs. They Coyotes were competitive in an 82-71 loss at Liberty Jan. 19, then turned around to knock off Shadow Ridge 67-63 in double overtime Jan. 23 with Jones playing through an injury.

While Cholla has been making a push for four years, his is all new for Centennial basketball. So new, in fact, that their coach believes the lack of playoff experience and expectations is a benefit.

"The players, I think, don't understand what their doing. They're just playing," Lavender said.

Centennial basketball coach Randy Lavender talks to his team during a time out at Cholla High School in Tucson. The Coyotes won the 5A playoff game 57-52.